 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |
| By Carole Clark |
 |
These are a few things to consider about the content of your website. If your
undecided about some of these, it's OK. We'll go over it during the phone consult and
I will give you my best advice.
Start thinking about domain names. For example: www.____________________.com
This will also be your business email address. For example: Manager@____________.com
or you can put your name there instead for the e-mail: Scott@___________________.com
but the underlined part will be the same for both. A good domain name is simple, short,
and obvious. Under 15 characters is ideal. Pick something easy and memorable, so if you tell
someone verbally, they can remember it at a later time easily. Avoid choosing numbers or
dashes. Think carefully about your choice, as changing it at a later time will cause major
problems and extra costs. Be prepared to come up with an alternate name just in case your
first choice is taken. It is very common for people to use the name of their business as the
domain name.
You may also have optional sub-domain names for:
1 year term-$9.95
2 year term-$19.99
3 year term-$29.85
5 year term-$49.75.
You do not need this...it is just an option available to you. To get more information about
sub-domain names and what purpose they serve, please visit my Sub Domains Info page.
Do you want to maintain/edit/update the website ($12.95 monthly) Please note, the first
credit card transaction will have 3 months charges on it:$12.95 x 3 = $37.85 which has a 30
day satisfaction quarantee. Only $7 is non-refundable because you will own a domain name
for 1 year. After the 3 rd month, you can keep it the same, or change it to once a month
billing or once a year billing. Please notify me if you want it different than the 3 month billing.
This is explained in detail if you go to my WEB HOSTER page.
Do you want it maintained/edited/updated for you ($50.00 monthly)
You can try it yourself to start out, and if it doesn't work out, you can switch over later to
"Preferred" maintaining your website. It is the most user friendly one out there and you do
not need to have any technical website knowledge.
How many pages do you want your website to have and what type:
Home Page (required)
Contact Us Page
Services Page
About Us Page
Credit Card Page
Testimonials Page
Printable coupon page (Each coupon is a $10 charge instead of the regular $150 page charge)
Informational Pages (I will discuss a useful technique about this that can benefit your website)
Photo Gallery (big pictures or thumbnail pictures). If you have a ton of pictures, I recommend
thumbnails so the page loads faster, as people lose interest quickly.
Many of these pages can be combined on 1 page, as well. They do not have to be separate.
In fact, there are certain things you want on your home page, for search engines.
Elements on the website:
Conventional maps and maps with reverse directions with street by street directions.
Any "YouTube" video can be added. Simply enter any subject in their search box
www.youtube.com
Any photos you want can be e-mailed to me, and I can also provide generic business
industry pictures for you as well.
Links (example of a link is the line above-www.youtube.com-so when you click on it, it takes
you to that website. It can also be a different page on your own website or an email address.
Navigation bars (need 3 or more pages for this feature)
Contact us form box, feedback box or blank form box
For credit card transactions, I use PayPal. They accept all major credit cards, debit cards, and
PayPal. PayPal uses secured server technology and are brand recognized and trusted on the
Internet. Sign up is FREE and simple for PayPal and there are NO MONTHLY FEE'S. You
simply get charged the standard percentage rate per transaction. If you have no transactions,
you pay nothing. All you need is a business checking account at any bank, which PayPal will
verify.This usually takes 2 or 3 days. Get started and sign up for PayPal today if you want
credit card transactions online. Once you are verified, I can add a BUY NOW button per
product or service. They also have DONATE buttons if you are a charity.I cannot help you if
you have a whole catalog of products. That requires an e-commerce website with the
shopping cart feature. Those type websites are more expensive and take a percentage of
your profits on top of the credit card fee's. If you have simple credit card needs and can do
business without the shopping cart feature, I can make this work for you to avoid the higher
e-commerce type websites. Each different item/service would have to be purchased
separately, but can be in multiples when customers change the quantity. A customer can
also enter in the exact dollar amount (no change) to make a general bill payment online. I
have techniques that make this work. If you would like to see an example of how this can
work in the home repair business, please go to www.preferredhomerepair.com. You can
view another example of how this can work in the motel business by visiting
www.51kitchenettemotel.com.It is also easy to access your PayPal funds. You can withdraw
your money when you request a debit card. You can also transfer the money into any bank
account once your main business account is verified. You can make payments to other
people from Paypal and use it for most Internet purchases since so many business's use it.
Are you an accredited BBB business with permission granted for their online logo? They
charge $500.00 for the online use of this logo, but in certain business's with a high level of
dissatisfied customers (such as the auto industry, landlords and home repair business's), this
can make you stand out from your competitors if you qualify.
Do you want any online printable coupons? I only charge $15 a coupon and this could be
great enticement for new customers only, referral incentives or whatever other kind of spin
you want to put on it. Have people give you their emails to be notified of all future
discounts.Then run a different special every month and email it out to all your current
customers who have provided you with their emails. Having a technique to gather your
customers emails is great for promotion...and so they don't forget about you.
What are your hours of business?
Any emergency after hour information?
Do you want your e-mail address on the website? I recommend displaying it only if you are
the type of person who will check it consistently. Otherwise, it's better to omit this and go
with your phone number exclusively.
Fax number?
What areas does your business serve?
What credit cards do you accept?
Would you just like the credit card logos on the page, and/or would you like a credit card
payment page?
What is your business address?
Start thinking of an opening introduction for your business that would go on the home page.
What do you want to tell people about your business? Sell yourself; highlight your skills,
experience, work ethic, standards, what sets you apart...things like that. I can also help you
with this.
Words for your banner title and any slogan, if so desired. For example:
Motel 6
"We'll leave the light on for you"
What main colors do you see your website being? What colors do you want avoided? It's OK
to choose a dark color scheme, but I highly recommend that anywhere there is written text,
we put a light color behind it, so that the text can be dark grey/black which most people
prefer for reading. It is common for people to have problems reading light lettering on dark
backgrounds. We can do all kinds of accents around the text fields in dark colors, so that the
website has a dark look, if that is what you prefer.
Describe to me what you want the feel of the website to be?
Examples:
Professional-Fun-Whimsical-edgy-funky-simple & informational-Modern-Classic-artistic-original
& different-colorful bright-colorful dark-monotone light-monotone dark-vibrant colors-muted
colors.
Any adjectives you can find will be helpful to me.
 |
???
???
???
| Checklist of Options |
| | | | | | |